The "advance" of parliamentary procedures used to limit debate and dissent in the house is not a mark of civility if measured by outcome. The Hastert rule also may be argued to have limited passionate debate on the floor simply by excluding the opportunity to debate. In the Senate, likewise a limit to the debate due to procedure should not be considered an advance by any person concerned with the ability of the US Congress to meaningfully contribute to the governance of America.

Chuck Hagel, importantly enjoyed bi-partisan support, and is a decorated war veteran. Defending Ted Cruz, who if taken at his word was ready to destroy the world economy to oppose health care reform in America, is in hindsight fairly absurd.

On one hand I am surprised at this personal article on this general review site. On the other hand in general I agree that even with ideas, moreover even with our thoughts we have to be careful what we "offload" towards the common, global "Marketplace of Ideas". The reason is simple, although maybe a bit "mysterious" at first. Most of us would agree that we evolved into a global, integral world, where each and every individual has become interconnected and interdependent. In such an integral system there is no "free space", it is as if all of us interconnect as cogwheels, and even the smallest movement immediately moves, influences all the other interconnected cogwheels around. And it goes beyond physical action. As the example in the article shows a "loud, outspoken" person with the virtual, global technological connection we have today, immediately influences millions of others. We see the "viral" spread of ideas, clips, thoughts on the internet within days, even hours. Thus is this system the personal responsibility to filter our thoughts before pulling the trigger is much higher. Of course the person is always under the influence of the values of the environment thus first of all we need to rebuild human society and its values in a way that people realize how much effect they have on the whole system whenever they "open their mouth", they push the "send" button on their computer or phone, and later we realize how much even our thoughts immediately influence the whole system to its farthest corners. It might sound scary at first, but that does not mean it is not true, we have enormous mutual responsibility towards each other, we have to learn how to live as a "single organism", being mutually aware of each other and the whole system in order to solve our common, global problems and survive.

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